Good Food. Good Body. How to Keep Your Foodie Status and Eat Healthy

Image: VAfoodie

Image: VAfoodie

Eating healthy with so much indulgent food around these parts might seem like a difficult task. Not to mention that we might have handicapped your efforts a bit with our recent roundup of to-die-for Valentine’s Day delights. If your new year’s resolutions have fallen flat, or you are adding to your Nutritious Eating Arsenal, these healthy options can give you all you want without sacrificing the flavors you crave.

Image: Farm Effect Food Truck - Vienna, VA

Image: Farm Effect Food Truck – Vienna, VA

The Farm Effect Food Truck

Wondering just how “local” your “locally-grown” meal is? Wonder no more thanks to this NoVa “farm to fork” food truck’s ingenious “Cents to Miles” approach, which lets diners know the exact number of miles — in cents — between them and their local food sources. Sandwiches including the “Sultry Poultry” and “Divine Bovine.” Pair with creative sides like the Spud Salad and zesty Lime Slaw for always-fresh, always-deliciousness.

Image: Lumi Organics - Charlottesville, VA

Image: Lumi Organics – Charlottesville, VA

Lumi Juice

Short for LoveUMeanIt, this cheerful, Charlottesville-based company serves up cold-pressed, fresh-squeezed juices and nutrition shots made with local, organic fruits and veggies. Available through local online market Relay Foods in flavors like Piedmont Pineapple and Wahoo Orange, nutrient-packed Lumi Juice is the perfect pick-me-up. Their subscription delivery boxes make your new juice addiction convenient and easy.

Image: Firefly Fare - Roanoke, VA - Katie Larrington Photography

Image: Firefly Fare – Roanoke, VA – Katie Larrington Photography

Firefly Fare

Located in Roanoke’s historic City Market Building, this family-friendly hotspot — helmed by early regional farm-to-table leader Chef Chris Parkhurst — showcases quality local ingredients in its diverse selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees. A fresh juice bar and plenty of vegetarian options round out its offerings. Or for something delectably different, go between four and seven o’clock for the Tapas menu.

Image: Hometown Harvest - Frederick, MD - Tony and Abby Brusco

Image: Hometown Harvest – Frederick, MD – Tony and Abby Brusco

Hometown Harvest

Want farmer’s market-quality goods but don’t have time for a trip to the farmer’s market? Enter Hometown Harvest. Owners (and local Frederick County farmers) Tony and Abby Brusco work with more than 150 local farms to deliver organic, locally-grown produce throughout MD, DC, and VA. Just sign up, fill your virtual bag, and wait for one of four full-serve Hometown Harvest “veggie vans” to bring the area’s most luscious, in-season fruits and veggies right to your door.

Image: Greens & Grains Cafe - Harrisonburg, VA

Image: Greens & Grains Cafe – Harrisonburg, VA

Greens & Grains Cafe

Fast casual gets a healthy upgrade at this Shenandoah Valley restaurant.  As if the pages-long menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches isn’t enough, choose from monthly house-made specials — all with breads, milk, eggs, and other ingredients sourced locally. For some local music along with your local food, stop by at five on Thursdays and Fridays.

Image: Soul Shine Farms - Greenville, VA

Image: Soul Shine Farms – Greenville, VA

Soul Shine Farms

Cutting Carbs and going hard on the protein? Perhaps you just love a great steak and are looking for the best. Carnivores can get in on the healthy eating action, too, thanks to this Greenville farm’s 100 percent grass-fed, “beyond organic,” all naturally raised, dry-aged Angus beef. UVA grad farmer Leslie Hancock works 365 days a year raising beef cattle with a focus on sustainability, the environment, nutrition and family preservation. You will feel great about eating the very best with their “Eat Clean Combos” making it even easier to make healthy choices.

Image: Hudson Henry Granola - Charlottesville, VA - Tisha Lyn Photography

Image: Hudson Henry Granola – Charlottesville, VA – Tisha Lyn Photography

Hudson Henry Baking Co.

Step up your breakfast and snack game eating. Small batches mean big flavor at Charlottesville’s Hudson Henry Baking Co., where the scratch-made Good News Granola has achieved cult status for its nutritious yet nosh-worthy offerings. Just how good is it? It’s one of Kathie Lee’s favorite things. An added bonus? In addition to your granola, you also get a dose of inspirational wisdom on the back of each bag.

Image: Speedie B's - Charlottesville, VA - Brand-O Foods

Image: Speedie B’s – Charlottesville, VA – Brand-O Foods

Speedie B’s

Never groan at an energy bar again. Not only is Speedie B’s the only line of energy bars made in Virginia, but its products are yummy too! Wheat-free, dairy-free and vegetarian may sound like a tall taste order, but this Charlottesville company pulls it off with “freaking-awesome” flavors like Maple Walnut, Almond Cherry, and Chocolate Peanut Butter sold at markets throughout Virginia and DC. Not sure which to try? Go for the 12-pack and get ready to power through your next grueling workout or workday.

Image: Ginger Juice - Richmond, VA - Cramer Photo/ Matt Siegel

Image: Ginger Juice – Richmond, VA – Cramer Photo/ Matt Siegel

Ginger Juice Company

Always wanted to try a cleanse but never worked up the gumption? This Richmond company does the work for you with not one but two cleanse collections. Ginger Juice Company’s natural, nourishing juices are made with ingredients from local farms like Schuyler Greens and Rudy’s Produce. And besides — can you really go wrong with names like Giggle (green apple, pineapple, mint), Gleeful (almonds, purified water, local honey, cinnamon, cold-brewed coffee, sea salt), Glitzy (apple, pear, pineapple), and our personal favorite, the greens-loaded Goatocado?

The takeaway for Virginia foodies looking to embrace healthier eating? The words “nutritious” and “delicious” don’t have to be mutually exclusive — particularly when you factor in the abundance of fresh, organic, wholesome and locally sourced offerings found throughout the region. Be healthy and shop local.

FIND MORE ON OUR EATDRINK, DINE & GROW LISTS.

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